Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-09-08
ABOUT A COUNT.
The Story of One Mttkie-
wiez by Name, a Russian
by Birth.
Exploits Of The Much Written and
Talked About Man in Baltimore.

BALTIMORE, Md, Sept. Count En-
gene Mitkiewicz was a resident of Balti-
more fcr a year or more. The memory OF
his business career Is painful to several
people In this city, and when they do al
lude to it they do not take special care
about the elegance of their adjectives.
The count came to Baltimore in the full
glory of his own name backed up by the
Endorsements OF members Of the Russian
nobility It seemed . curious thing that
a man of such high station should go into
the coal business, but that was the avo-
cation he selected, and being shrewd
and plausible he had little trouble in es
tablishing a firm of himself, John A.
Cook and others. The concern splurged
to 8 considerable extent, and made us
much noise as all the other dealers COM
hined. In December of 1879 a byanch Of
the business was established in Washing
ton. The announcement of the fact, as
published in q local paper, is well worth
reading, as showing what q count can 10
In the way OF advertising. /. ia rs fol-
lows:
A enterprising Arm, the coal firm OF
Mitkiewicz, Cook & Co., which have re-
Gently come into prominence in his city
on account of their extensive operations,
have extended their business to Wash
iEs.or, ID. c., where they have associated
with them Mr.. Porter, a son of Admiral
Porter, Of the United States under the
frm name of Mitkiewioz, Cook & Porter.
Thu Arm have opened a large yard and
secured extensive wharf facilities at the
capital, and have laid In the largest stock
of coal in the district. They deal in all
kinds Of coal from the most favorably
known mines, and have made a name al
ready for delivering clean coal, thor.
eughly screened n sifted, and of the
best qualities With the idea that the
Arm possesses as to the manner in which
business should be conducted, their snc-
cess Is assured, for whether supplying
the smallest retail order or filing con-
tracts with factories and large buildings
for many tons a day, the same prompt
ness OF delivery, care in filling orders and
selecting only the exact kind of coal de.
sired is always observed, and there is no
annoyance amongst their customers from
finding the coal just bought won't burn
as well as the last lot
The count lived in a handsome home
on boundary avenue, and was getting
along swimmingly until the last of Janu-
airy, 1880, or abont a month and a hall
after the publication OF the
ment printed above. His business part
ners began to grow uneasy, The coal
business was not paying TO any consider
able extent, not while Count Mitkiewfcz
was managing: II, SO on Wednesday, Feb
ruary 8, q bill was fled in the circuit
court, by James A. Cook, a member Of
1 fha Rryrn for fba. oot%l1r~-A
ship affairs; also another bill, a creditors
bill, by Charles L. Cook, on his own
part fsIrdi other creditors against Eugene
Mitkiewicz, James A. Cook and others.
The bill was for an injunction against
the execution of the Judgment in the SUI
perior court of 1874, 1877. rs in favor OF
Henry j. kintz, which was conferred on
the 18th of january; also against carry
ing on or proceeding with any of the OPP
erations of the partnership business; also
for tho appointment OF a receiver.
The injunction was granted by Judge
DObbin, and A. W. Machen and John ".
Mason appointed receivers. In the same
court a bill was fled by Chas. A. Hardy
as executor of Cashier & Co., OF Phila-
delphfa, claiming the coal in possession
Of the firm as having been bought of them
In that city. Under the judgmentof jan
Aot Spy upoyO IClcIEEu 10, Ire Bnerl0 04Q
already proceeded to seize the coal in the
yard on Cathedral street and at Reeder's.
A complaint Of false pretenses was pre-
ferred before the grand jury by the
Philadelphia firm of Castner s. Co., and
Count Mitkiewicz was arrested on a
bench warrant, but afterwards released
on $40, 900 bail.
After the arrest the courts record was
pretty thoroughly looked up, and he wes
generally picsared as IN sdyenturer. A
defense was published for him In a news
paper at the time, declaring that extra.
yagance was responsible for all his troub.
les, and saying, among other things the
following:
I'm this country he has undoubtedly
led a fast life, but those who have been
IN contact with him utterly repudiate
the charge of dishonesty and lay all his
troubles upon his utter lack of business
experience, 80 necessary, particularly to
carry on the coal trade successfully
Upon these representations his bail was
reduced from $40, 600 to 81 900. Before
the case came 70 trial, ]. I. Mason, u
sel for Castner & Co., of Philadelphia,
went out to the counts house on Febru-
airy III, on business connected with the
case. The result Of the interview was
that the count struck NJ. Mason in his
face, leaving a bad mark from a big seal
ring which he wore. The counts excuse
was that Mr.. Mason had used irritating
language, In March the case of alleged
false pretenses came up for trial, Count
Mitkiewicz WAS aoquitted, and Cashier
b Co.'S claim was disallowed. The count
was defended by tive Of the ablest law
yers in the city. The other case dragged
through the courts for a year, and were
so thoroughly complicated that they are
often alluded to by lawyers. 1t would
take about a week OF reading to get
through them all. The general result,
however, appears ts have been that the
concern was wound up with precious few
assets to pay large liabilities.